High Peak

High Peak's population grew older in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, religion and ethnicity.

The population reached nearly 91,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of High Peak increased by 1.6%, from about 89,400 to 90,900.

The addition of just under 1,500 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, High Peak was home to, on average, 1.2 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older High Peak

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of High Peak increased by four years, from 39 to 43 years.

This affluent area had a higher average age than the East Midlands and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 3,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 4,000.

About 13% of people in High Peak are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and High Peak by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in High Peak

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in High Peak at a faster rate than across the East Midlands.

In High Peak, the proportion of single people increased from 26% in 2001 to 31% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 28% to 32%.

Across the East Midlands, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 28% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in High Peak fell from 55% to 49%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer homes with children

High Peak saw the East Midlands' second-largest fall in the proportion of households with children.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28%) households in High Peak had at least one dependent child, compared with 31% in 2001. The percentage with no children increased from 59% to 62%.

Across the region, only Rutland saw a greater fall in the proportion of households with children (from 29% to 26%).

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in High Peak

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 30% said they had no religion. An increase from 17% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in High Peak.

The percentage increased at a similar rate to the average across the East Midlands (from 16% to 27%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in High Peak that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 68,000 in 2001 to about 58,000 in 2011 (from 77% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 6,100 to about 6,600 (from 6.8% to 7.2%).

Just under 390 people (0.3%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from just over 230 in 2001 (0.4%).

The population without a religion in High Peak increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and High Peak by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in High Peak

The percentage of High Peak residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 8.0% to 7.8% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.5%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.8% in 2001. The percentage of High Peak residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 7.3% in 2001 to 6.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in High Peak

In 2011, 98% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 99% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in High Peak.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the East Midlands (from 93% to 89%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in High Peak from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 510 in 2001 to about 940 in 2011 (from 0.6% to 1.0%). The number of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 340 to just over 710 (from 0.4% to 0.8%).

Just over 180 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just over 150 in 2001 (0.2%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in High Peak remained close to 98%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and High Peak by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

In High Peak, the proportion of private renting increased from 7.5% in 2001 to 13% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 8.5% to 15%.

Across the East Midlands, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in High Peak remained close to 13%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 77% to 72%.

Private renting in High Peak increased by 5.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in High Peak, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of High Peak residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.7% to 5.2% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of High Peak residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.4% in 2001 to 5.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in High Peak decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in High Peak, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in High Peak working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14% to 10% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.7% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 14% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in High Peak decreased by 3.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in High Peak, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More people living alone

The percentage of households in High Peak, which comprised one person, increased from 27% to 29% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in nine (11%) households had an unmarried couple, compared with 9.3% in 2001. The percentage of households in High Peak which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 42% to 36%.

The proportion of one-person households increased faster here than the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 28% in 2001 to 29% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 30%.

The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of High Peak residents that were unemployed increased from 2.7% to 3.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (54%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 56% in 2001. The percentage of High Peak residents that were self-employed increased from 9.8% to 11%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 3.4% in 2001 to 4.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in High Peak increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in High Peak, the East Midlands and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of High Peak residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.0% to 1.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.9%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 1.2% in 2001 to 1.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in High Peak remained close to 1.3%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and High Peak by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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